Window shade and supporting brackets



May 8, 1945.

F. R. SCHUELLER WINDOW SHADE ANDY SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed Jan. 5. 1944INVENTOR.

the roller with the brackets Patented May 8, 1945 2,375,496 WINDOW SHADEAND SUPPORTING i BRACKETS Frank R. SchuellenfCincinnati, Ohio, assig'norto The Chas. Breneman Company, Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio I Application Januar 's, 1944," SerialNo.517,123 g i Claims. (ema ls-zen),

This invention relates to brackets for supporting window shades andisdirected particularly'to an improved structure which is more durableand. I

more attractive in appearance than those hereto fore available. I

The conventional shade brackets are sheet metal stampings, each having afoot through which it is mounted on the window frame while one of thebrackets of a pair has a slot to receive the spear projecting from oneend of the shade roller and the other bracket has a bore or opening toreceive the pin extending from the shade roller at its other end. Theshade roller hasbrass ferrules covering its endwise portions which, inmost instances, not only protect, the wooden roller but help support thepin and tang projections, also cooperating with the rewinding mechanismof the roller. In the usual mounting, the ferrules are unsightly and themechanical connection of is not pleasing in appearance.

The-objective of this invention principally has been to provide astructure inmwhich a housing covering the ferruled endwise port'on ot'the shade roller is interposed between the bracket and the spear orpin,as the casemay be, to serve the purpose of forming the structuralsupporting element by which the endwise portion for the roller isinterconnected with the bracket, toconceal the ferrules and improve thevisual appear- I ance of the assembly, and to protect the journals androller rewind mechanism against dust.

The outer periphery of the cover or cap, as'it may becalled, issubstantially the same in diam-' eter as the diameter of the shaderoller when the shade has been Wound substantially upon it. Therefore,the outer surfaces of the shade andcap are substantially flush .with oneanother, the cap in effect forminga continuation of the rolled up shade,which is pleasing in appearance. The

inward face of this cap is adjacent the edge of I the shade and alsoserves to some extent as a guide therefor. In the mechanical structureof the apparatus the cap is a cup-l ke element which fits over the end.of the shade roller while a recess or cavity is provided at the bottomof this piece to receive the spear or pin. The outside of this portionof the cap is squared or grooved to fit within a slot or opening ofsimilar configuration in the bracket. In this manner, therefore, thebracket supports the cap andthe cap, in turn, supports the shade roller.The structure also may be provided with a roller for guiding theedgewise portion of the shade so that it may be rolled up evenly.

'Other features ofthe invention a further objectives arediscussedin thedrawiug'in which preferred embodiments of the improvement areillustrated. i v

' In the drawing:

"gure 1 is afragmentary view of .the upper- 'part or a window showing ashade roller and brackets, in .accordancewit'hthe present inven tion,mounted thereon. I I

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation showing the assembly-of the shaderoller, cap and bracket in working position.

Figure 3 is an endwise elevation" of the bracket andcap. Figure 4 is alongitudinal sectional view taken through the brackets and caps and alsoshows the shade roller mounted therebetween. Figure 15 is anexplodedperspective view showing the bracket and cap disassembled. v

The brackets of the present invention are adapted to be mounted in theconventional way. As shown in Figure 1, they are fastened upon a windowframe indicated generally at I at, the

upper portion thereof to'support a shade roller 2 therebetween. Theshade roller and shade thereon, as referred to in this specification,maybe of the usual type and therefore they are not de scribed in detail.

Each bracket assembly consists or'two parts, V the bracket properdesignated 3, and the cap or cover which is indicated generally 'at '4.The

bracket, ,as shown best in Figure 5, generally is similar to thoseheretofore employed and consists of an arm portion '5 and a foot portion6 which extends laterally with-respect to the arm and which is'adaptedto be mounted upon the Window frame by means of screws 1. The bracketsof the present invention, however, differ from those which areconventional in thatthe apertures 8' in the arms thereof are openings ofsubstantial size and in efiect constitute cradles for the caps 4 throughwhich the caps are held in non-rotatable relationship thereto.

Each cap has a cup-shaped portion -9 which fits over the end of theshade roller to conceal the ferrule portion thereof. This is shown bestin Figure 4, the cavity in the cap in which the endwise portion of theshade roller resides being designated Ill. The outside diameter of thisporto fit over one end of the shade roller is an oblong recess as shownin Figure 4, configurated to re-,

ceive the spear or tang [3 of the roller;the cap for the opposite/endmay have a circular hole to receive the shade roller pin I4.

Each cap has a, circular projection or extending from the cup-shapedportion 9 thereof; This portion preferably, thoug'lr not necessarily,

is of smaller diameter than the cup portion, and

grooves l6 are cut into the sides thereof at a disf tance spacedinwardly from the end. These grooves on each cap delineate a neck whichfits boss l5 fit 'within said transverse slot and a cup-shaped portionextending therebeyond, the said shade having a slot of substantial widthextending transversely therethrough, and a shade supporting memberhaving recesses therein arranged to supporting member beingconfiguratedto extend over the ferruled endwiseportion of a windowshade" roller, and thes'ai d' cup-shaped 'portion' thereof having arecess'at its bottom for receiving within the opening 8 of the bracket.In the pre- I -ferredstructure, grooves H are cut across the bottoms ofthe bosses l5 to provide flatseats I upon which the caps may rest withinthe brackets.

Itmay be seen, therefore, that the cap is held I the tang or spear of awindow shade roller.

Y 2. The combination of a bracket, comprising an arm portion havingaslot extending transversely therethrough and communicating. with an edgethereof, and a cap member comprising a hollow cylindricalportion'arranged to extend substantially over the endwise portion of awindowshade roller and having a recess extending therein latagainstrotation by the squared portionconsti-y tuted'by the grooves while theuncut portion of V the cap boss l5 beyondthe grooves constitutes aflange which holds the cap inthe bracket.

, For the purpose of assisting in the guidingof the shade rollerwhen-it" is being, rolled and ,unrolled the brackets may be providedwith supplemental'guide rollers l8 which arepositioned to be engaged bythe sidewise edg'es'of the'window shade and thereby direct theshade inan even rolling action. One end of each roller 18 is journalled in abore Is in the foot 6 of the bracket while the other end is journalledin a boss 2i! extending from the arm'5. The rollers areinsorted throughbore l9 prior to'fixing the bracket to the window frame.

. To mount a window shade in accordance with.

' the present invention the brackets are put up in 1 the usual way butarespaced apart a distance sufiiciently to accommodate'the caps mountedon-the ends of the roller. After the brackets have been fastened a; capis placed in one ofjthe brackets, theshade is inserted within that cap,then the other cap is placed upon the? other end of the shade which isnext lowered into, the

'bracket. The devices may be made either of sheet metal or ofplasticmaterials as desired. By virtue of the factthat the end of thespring atthe end of the roller to which the spring rewind mechanismis located isfully concealed by-the cap, dust and dirt are excluded from the rewindmechanism and the entire structure in appearance presents an apparatusof pleasing contour.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of, a bracket having a foot portion adapted to befastened toawall and an arm portion extending laterally therefrom anderally to the axis thereof through which said cap ceivethe shade rollerspear or tang.v

member may be received within the transverse openingof said bracket.

3. The combination of a window, shade bracket,

which includes an arm havin'ga laterally extend- ;ing gap of substantialwidth near the outer ex- 4. The combination of a window shade bracket,including an arm having a gap of substantial width extendingtransversely. therethrough and open at an edge thereof, and a cap memberhaving at least one lateral groove therein through which said cap may bereceived withinsaid gap,

and also having a cylindrical cavity extending longitudinally thereinfrom'oneend to a substantial depth for receptionand concealment of theendwise portion of a shade roller,rand a second recess extending beyondthe first to-receive the shade roller spear or tang. 1 r r 7 5. As a newarticle of manufacture for use with a window shade and bracket,comprising a cap adapted to extend' for a substantial distance over theendwise portion of a window shade roller, the

said cap having a recess atthebottomthereofforming asupportingconnection between the cap and. the spear or pin extending from theshade roller and having at least one. slot extending lat- 1 erally intothe body thereof'through which said cap may be received andheld'against' rotation in thegap of ashade roller bracket.-

- V FRANK R. SCHIIELLER.

